Until relatively recently, doctors treated the brain and body as two separate systems. We now understand that our entire body, including the brain, is a deeply connected network.
A change in one area can have a broad impact in others: the gut connects to the brain via the vagus nerve, inflammation in one organ can lead to systemic inflammation, and circulatory health affects every cell in our body, just to name a few.
Because of these connections, living a healthy lifestyle that keeps all these components functioning well can extend our “healthspan” and, therefore, our enjoyment of life well into old age. Habits that positively affect our body, mind, emotions, and spirit have a synergistic effect that contributes to overall and long-term health.
Research continually reveals this increasingly connected web of lifestyle choices and our health. The food we eat affects our mood. Regular exercise can reduce stress, contribute to vascular health, and improve sleep. Restorative sleep improves our mental well-being, consolidates memory, and helps regulate insulin. Yoga and deep breathing can alleviate stress and calm the nervous system. Addressing even one of these areas has a profound effect on our health, especially our brains. Over a lifetime, it can mean the ability and freedom to enjoy our families, hobbies, sports, travel and other interests.
There has never been a more critical time to take control of our health. People are becoming sick earlier—at younger ages. Diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression, infections and disease, autoimmune reactions, and dementia are at all-time highs. If we want to live long and healthy lives, understanding what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and how to achieve one is important, but it can be overwhelming and confusing. Building a support system, healthcare team, along with short- and long-term plans greatly increases the chances of creating the healthy life you want now and keeping it for decades. Don’t wait—take your first step today!
***
Article provided by Sharp Again. To find the resources you need to support your cognitive health, please visit Sharpagain.org. Be sure to check out Sharp Again’s Foundational Coaching Program.
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17 Sep 2024
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Until relatively recently, doctors treated the brain and body as two separate systems. We now understand that our entire body, including the brain, is a deeply connected network.
A change in one area can have a broad impact in others: the gut connects to the brain via the vagus nerve, inflammation in one organ can lead to systemic inflammation, and circulatory health affects every cell in our body, just to name a few.
Because of these connections, living a healthy lifestyle that keeps all these components functioning well can extend our “healthspan” and, therefore, our enjoyment of life well into old age. Habits that positively affect our body, mind, emotions, and spirit have a synergistic effect that contributes to overall and long-term health.
Research continually reveals this increasingly connected web of lifestyle choices and our health. The food we eat affects our mood. Regular exercise can reduce stress, contribute to vascular health, and improve sleep. Restorative sleep improves our mental well-being, consolidates memory, and helps regulate insulin. Yoga and deep breathing can alleviate stress and calm the nervous system. Addressing even one of these areas has a profound effect on our health, especially our brains. Over a lifetime, it can mean the ability and freedom to enjoy our families, hobbies, sports, travel and other interests.
There has never been a more critical time to take control of our health. People are becoming sick earlier—at younger ages. Diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression, infections and disease, autoimmune reactions, and dementia are at all-time highs. If we want to live long and healthy lives, understanding what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and how to achieve one is important, but it can be overwhelming and confusing. Building a support system, healthcare team, along with short- and long-term plans greatly increases the chances of creating the healthy life you want now and keeping it for decades. Don’t wait—take your first step today!
***
Article provided by Sharp Again. To find the resources you need to support your cognitive health, please visit Sharpagain.org. Be sure to check out Sharp Again’s Foundational Coaching Program.